Interview: The Novel Ideas on their Lizard Lounge Residency

Next month, local quintet The Novel Ideas will begin their first ever residency at Lizard Lounge. We spoke with Daniel Radin, vocalist and guitarist of the country-folk band, about how it all came together, and what to expect.

“A lot of Boston bands that have gone on to play bigger and bigger venues did residencies while they were in Boston” Radin said. It’s true: artists like Lake Street Dive, Arc Iris, and Tall Heights have held residencies at the Lizard Lounge and gained national attention and coverage by the likes of NPR and Rolling Stone.

The venue itself is a cozy one, fitting for The Novel Ideas brand of folk: “It’s an intimate venue, but not in an uncomfortable way. You’re on the same level as the audience,” explains Radin.

The Novel Ideas were able to select the acts performing with them each night. Radin noted that the process was surprisingly easy, as the band has similar tastes, and all of their first choices were available. Radin, who runs a series of house shows, has had plenty of experience putting together show lineups: “I’ve gotten to know a lot of these acts through the house show series, and somewhat through working at Club Passim,” Radin explained. “Each group that’s performing we know through a different route.”

When I asked Radin to describe the band’s sound without using genre names, he opted instead to describe the residency with a phrase that reinforced the feeling of closeness this series of shows will likely exude: “Friendly Friends Befriending Friendliest Friendship.”

The band is putting the finishing touches on their next full-length album – which they hope to release early next year – and plan on playing most of those new songs at their residency shows. Fans can expect different performances each night; the setlist will vary by night and two covers are planned for each show. If new songs from The Novel Ideas aren’t enough you, Radin hinted at superjam-style performances for each show, with all the night’s performers coming together to play on stage.

Below, listen to the songs selected by Radin, one for each of the acts who will be performing with The Novel Ideas next month: